Posts tagged los angeles documentary family photography
7 Tips for Documenting Authentic Family Moments
 

When I was a kid, I actually hated posing for photos. I’d squirm, look away, or make the weirdest faces on purpose. So my dad did what any quick-thinking parent would do - he snapped candids. Us laughing, playing, making a mess… and honestly? Those are the photos I cherish the most today. They were real. Unstaged. Full of life.

Have you ever flipped through family albums and thought, "Where’s Mom? Where’s Dad?" Because let’s be real - they were probably the ones taking the picture. And how often do we snap a hundred photos but never get one where we’re all in it?

If you’re tired of staged smiles and photos that don’t really feel like you, these tips will help you capture moments that do. Ready to make some memories? Let’s go!

 

1. Capture the Chaos (Because It’s Beautiful!)

Some of the best family moments are messy, loud, and full of life. Kids running around, a dog jumping into the frame, someone laughing so hard they snort - THOSE are the moments that tell your family’s story. Don’t wait for the “perfect” shot. Snap the ones where life is happening in all its glorious and unfiltered magic.

 
 
 

2. Stop Telling Everyone to “Say Cheese”

Forced smiles? No thanks. Instead of stiff poses, let the moment unfold naturally. Crack a joke, reminisce about a funny memory, or have a little tickle fight. The best smiles aren’t the ones we force - they’re the ones that just happen.

 
 
 

3. Take Turns Behind the Camera

If you’re the one always taking photos (hi, moms and dads!), make a point to switch it up. Hand the camera over to your partner, set up a tripod, or even ask a stranger to take a quick snap. One day, your kids will want to look back and see YOU in these moments, too.

4. Choose Places That Mean Something

Your family’s story isn’t written in a studio - it’s in the little corners of your home, the park where your kids learned to ride a bike, the kitchen where you have Sunday pancakes. Instead of a generic photoshoot spot, pick a place that already holds memories. That way, the photos will feel even more you.

 
 
 

5. Find the Moments Between the Poses

Ever notice that the best pictures aren’t the ones where everyone’s looking at the camera? They’re the ones where a parent is tying a tiny shoelace or a child is whispering a secret in their sibling’s ear. Those little, in-between moments tell the real story. Keep your camera ready for them!

6. Let Kids (and Pets) Do Their Thing

Trying to get kids (or pets) to sit still for a photo is like herding cats. Instead of forcing a perfect pose, let them play, explore, and be themselves. Follow their energy, and you’ll get shots full of genuine joy.

 
 
 

7. Print Your Photos & Put Them Somewhere You’ll See Them

In a world where we snap a million pictures but rarely see them again, don’t let your best family moments get buried in your phone. Print them out, make an album, or create a gallery wall. Let those real, beautiful, imperfectly perfect moments live where they belong - front and center in your home.

 
 
 

Final Thought

One day, when you’re looking back on these photos, you won’t care if your hair was perfect or if everyone was facing the camera. You’ll care about how they felt. The way your child’s tiny hand fit into yours. The way your partner laughed when you whispered something ridiculous in their ear. The way your family was just being - together.

So get in the frame. Capture the real. And don’t forget to hand someone else the camera once in a while. 💛

Ready to make some real magic? Let’s skip the poses and capture the good stuff.

 
Elopement Wedding at a Riverside Courthouse - Sarah and Bobby
 

Here is a little glimpse (behind the scenes) of how I'd photograph an elopement of a couple at a courthouse. We spent 1 hour together. And my partner Brett filmed and edited this video.

Sarah started talking about how her mom Monica had to endure the toughest time of her life - when her mother died and then, Sarah "died 4 times" and didn't know she would be able to walk again.

Sarah and Bobby eloped with Sarah’s mom, aunt and granpa, and got married at a Riverside Courthouse, vowing to be with each other forever and ever. I was so fortunate to witness their love.

Some love stories are straight out of a fairytale - others are written with grit, strength, and a radiant smile that defies all odds. Sarah has been battling a rare disease which doctors are still trying to understand, and yet, she radiates more joy than most will in a lifetime.

With the biggest smile and the purest heart, Sarah and Bobby reminded me that love isn't just about finding the right person - it's also about embracing every single moment, no matter how unpredictable the journey.

 


Los Angeles Documentary Family Photography Session - The Serranos
 

Honestly, I’m getting a little emotional writing this… I’ve known Aileen and Jaime for a while - yearssss. We planned their wedding together for a couple of years together, getting super excited with all the details. We flew to Mexico - Guanajuato city - to do their engagement session; we had so much fun hanging out. Then Covid pandemic happened. We were carefully watching what was happening and what the rules were during the lockdown. They decided to cancel the wedding. But then, they wanted to just get married. So they came to us (we’re also based in Carlsbad, CA) and eloped in Balboa Park in San Diego with masks on and the 6 foot social distancing rule. Nothing was going to stop their love and their plan to build a family together. During the pandemic, they welcomed Nicolas who turned 3 years this year. When Nicolas was an infant, I went to visit him, hand-delivering their wedding albums, and I still have photos of me holding tiny Nicolas.

The Serrano family recently bought a house in lovely area of Woodland Hills and has invited me to come over and document their typical afternoon with the highly energetic toddler boy and a new puppy. It was so much fun - a lot of running around, and I always like to end the session with a lovely portrait of the family.

(Oh, yes, I’m overdue to post their elopement and engagement portrait photos. I hope to get to them eventually!)